The Cardinal Nation blog

St. Louis Cardinals star Stan Musial collected his 3,000th hit 54 years ago today, on May 13, 1958, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Exclusive interview with the Hall of Fame shortstop in which we discuss St. Louis Cardinals past and present.

Jake Westbrook did something Thursday that has occurred only 64 times prior – a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher stealing a base.

The top Scrabble-scoring names by decade in St. Louis Cardinals team history.

Title-winning St. Louis Cardinals managers Red Schoendienst, Whitey Herzog and Tony La Russa will be honored together at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 21.

Lou Brock to join yet another Hall of Fame, this one for the collegiate game.

The new exhibit of St. Louis Cardinals memorabilia at the Clinton Library in Little Rock has opened.

The many questions about recovering from significant off-season losses seem to be strengthening the 2012 St. Louis Cardinals’ resolve.

Former St. Louis Cardinals greats Stan Musial and Albert Pujols had some off-field financial similarities in their contracts.

A new Albert Pujols-related tempest has ensued over billboards in California.

The paths of a St. Louis Cardinals pitching star from the 1980s and a failed big-bonus outfield signing from 2007 have come together in Rockland County, New York.

Which Canadian-born player contributed the most to the St. Louis Cardinals?

Former St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitcher Rheal Cormier is a new Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer.

First-year St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny will be dealing with the media in a more intense manner than ever before. How will both sides react?

If pitcher Roy Oswalt signs with the St. Louis Cardinals, will his familiar number 44 be available?

What might we learn from a time in history when the St. Louis Cardinals got rid of the best catcher in the National League instead of paying him what he deserved?

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2012.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a new manager and several new coaches, ushering in a new era for the defending champions.

The St. Louis Cardinals starting middle infielders to begin 2011 did not last the season, with more change likely for 2012.

Four veteran relievers began the 2011 season with the St. Louis Cardinals but they did not perform and were soon gone, replaced by younger men.

New Cardinals manager Mike Matheny becomes the youngest current manager in MLB, but only 14th-youngest St. Louis skipper in the last century.

Several best games of the late St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch are remembered.

Chris Carpenter’s seventh post-season win tied him with Hall of Famer Bob Gibson for the most in St. Louis Cardinals history.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese drove in four runs Wednesday night. Only one player had more RBI in a post-season game in team history.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina is only the fourth catcher in team history to collect 30 doubles in a season.

Could the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2006 World Champion GM-manager-star trio be lured to Chicago’s North Side?

A former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher says the Pujols contract situation and lack of vocal leadership has affected the current team’s results.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ current Scrabble point champion tied a former player from 1950.

Former Cardinals closer and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley is voted onto 11-man dream team.

MLB’s head for on-field matters wants players to show more respect for the game while supporting umpires in his remarks.

Chicago Tribune columnist Phil Rogers sees Wednesday’s trade centering on Colby Rasmus and Edwin Jackson much differently than others.

Like a St. Louis Cardinals outfield predecessor from 30 years ago, Colby Rasmus has chosen not to speak with the media.

Exclusive interview with Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley in which we discuss closing, the St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching, the manager’s tenure and more.

An earlier St. Louis Cardinals hitting star relied on his father for regular hitting instruction, like Colby Rasmus is today.

Upcoming Curt Flood HBO special serves as Trojan horse for a writer’s attack on an ex-star player.

The 20-game hitting streak of St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot ended on Wednesday night, short of past team greats.

Colby Rasmus and Aubrey Huff both had six RBI on Thursday night. It was only the third time in history a St. Louis Cardinal and opponent did it in the same game.

In terms of crucial RBI for the St. Louis Cardinals, Daniel Descalso’s 2011 start trails only Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols in the last 60 years.

The former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman looks back at the difference between baseball’s integration and desegregation.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Mitchell Boggs is 3-for-3 in saves, but so were 45 other Cardinals since 1950.

An almost-forgotten name from the 1970’s had an unbelievable start closing games.

Looking at historical comparisons to St. Louis Cardinals’ left-hander Jamie Garcia’s complete-game four hit shutout with nine strikeouts on Sunday.

Ex-St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach passed away in his sleep, reports former student Eduardo Perez.

I hear all the early St. Louis Cardinals camp excitement about third baseman Matt Carpenter, but my thoughts are elsewhere, back in 2005.

While the St. Louis Cardinals have twice experienced the loss of a 20-game winner for the entire next season, neither case turned out well.

Putting Albert Pujols’ opportunity to remain a life-long St. Louis Cardinal into games-played context.

Selected photos from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Stand for Stan Day, last October 2.

Stan Musial’s Medal of Freedom presentation can be seen by all over the internet.

Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire is losing ground in his Hall of Fame candidacy.

2010 was a big year for the greatest St. Louis Cardinal ever, Stan Musial.

Whitey Herzog entered Baseball’s Hall of Fame and his number was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in July.

Starting in June, the St. Louis Cardinals called on five minor league castoffs with below-average results.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ former slugger became their hitting coach, apologized for the past, and moved ahead.

Considering the candidacies of four former St. Louis Cardinals on the 2011 Hall of Fame ballot.

Looking at OPS+ marks by the St. Louis Cardinals’ top three hitters over the Albert Pujols years.

How does the current middle of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup compare to their 2004 predecessors?

A series of quick updates on St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.

A series of quick updates on St. Louis Cardinals subjects currently in the news.

One columnist suggests the St. Louis Cardinals should sign Derek Jeter to replace Albert Pujols.

Intended only in fun, this award honors the highest level of hitting futility by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher in a season.

Adam Wainwright again takes our annual recognition for the top hitting performance by a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher.

Even considering a trade for Florida’s Dan Uggla would require a major change in strategy for the St. Louis Cardinals, but it has been done before.

Two former St. Louis Cardinals infielders with ties to the Mets are among the candidates for the open New York managerial job. Do they have a chance?

Calling out a pair of interesting articles about the St. Louis Cardinals star player and his former teammate (along with his current manager, sort of).

Comparing Mark McGwire’s 2010 St. Louis Cardinals offense to Hal McRae’s 2009 version shows six more runs scored but a 6% drop in home runs.

The St. Louis Cardinals have decided upon their manager for 2011, but three coaching positions remain unsettled.

A signal from the St. Louis Cardinals camp that hitting coach Mark McGwire may not return in 2011.

Another talented outfielder from the past was traded away by the St. Louis Cardinals.

A historical view of St. Louis Cardinals unearned runs by pitcher.

Who is trailing Albert Pujols and Stan Musial with the most multiple-home run games in St. Louis Cardinals history?

Why not pair up a couple of St. Louis Cardinals’ five-inning starters every fifth day?

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols became the 47th member of MLB’s 400 home run club, doing it in fewer at-bats than all but four of them.

In the last half-century, no St. Louis Cardinals hitter has had more seasons of four or more four-hit games than Curt Flood.

Anger over MLB’s Hall of Fame Sunday games and wonder about ESPN’s Sunday night choice.

St. Louis Cardinals starters have gone five innings or less in four consecutive games.

Analyzing returned St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Jeff Suppan’s four-inning outing on Tuesday evening.

The St. Louis Cardinals added Milwaukee’s reject, Jeff Suppan. How much trouble will ensue?

Ex-St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Orlando Cepeda is a Latin Baseball Hall of Famer.

Albert Pujols had his fourth three-home run game on Sunday. Mark McGwire had just three as a St. Louis Cardinal.

Adam Wainwright pitched a great game for the St. Louis Cardinals against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, but great wasn’t great enough.

Brad Penny is now one of a select group of St. Louis Cardinals pitchers with a grand slam. Bob Gibson, who watched Penny’s shot Friday night, has two.

St. Louis Cardinals rookie Jaime Garcia’s 2010 start invokes memories of another left-hander from Mexico who made his MLB debut 30 years ago, Fernando Valenzuela.

Of course it is early, but Jaime Garcia’s 2010 start matches that of a couple of Hall of Famers, including one named “Lefty.”

Chris Carpenter added his name to an exclusive list on Thursday night with his second consecutive ten-strikeout game for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Brothers Lindy and Von McDaniel along with Bob L. Miller joined the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1950’s without playing in the minor leagues first.

“Tasteless” radio station stunt targeted at Mark McGwire leads to banishment.

The man behind the Mark McGwire media plan has lost a couple of high-profile gigs.

Joe Torre recounts the story of how the Yankees wanted him as GM and Tony La Russa as manager back in October 1995. Imagine how the MLB landscape might have changed.

The name of the venerable author and humorist may be added to the highway currently honoring the former St. Louis Cardinals slugger.

In an odd twist, the wrong McGwire may turn out to be the family’s anti-steroid spokesman.

Jay McGwire’s book is coming out. Here is hoping his family members aren’t actually surprised.

Stan Musial isn’t the oldest or even second-oldest former St. Louis Cardinals player living. The latter is the relatively-unknown Freddie Schmidt.

A look at St. Louis Cardinals second base non-roster invitees over the last five seasons.

Former Giants media relations director labels any plan “naïve” that keeps Mark McGwire from answering further questions about his past.

A look ahead to the top projected stories across the Cardinal Nation in 2010.

A search through baseball history is underway to identify a most unusual Stan Musial photo.

Diffusing the ongoing outrage over Mark McGwire may require a clarification of the end objective.

Just as his Cardinals centerfield predecessor Ray Lankford did, Jim Edmonds wants to return after a year out of the game.

Just as when Mark McGwire spoke out, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is catching considerable heat for what he said and did not say.

In a major surprise, former slugger Mark McGwire was introduced in October as the club’s new hitting coach, and in early 2010, stepped out of the shadows.